STYLE ARCHITECT, LEILA FOWLER OPENS NEW BOUTIQUE

By Niyi Tabiti

 Some months back I was at Eko Hotel and Suites,Victoria Island to attend the press briefing hosted by a team from African Fashion International, a South African company involved in the organization of top fashion weeks like Cape Town and Jo' Burg Fashion Weeks etc.
  Someone raised an issue that I would never forget. The person said,the reason why the craze for african clothes have not been propagated around the world is that most designers from here price themselves out of the market. Someone would make a design out of ankara that would cost just few dollars and expect to sell for hundreds of dollars or more. Too bad, we all know that most ankara have 'short life span'...assuming the fabric can also stay for long, then all well and good.
 We all know for sure that even the biggest designers in the world still have clothes one can buy as low as $30.I know some Nigerian designers who will rather make a dress with a price tag of about $1000!Can you imagine?Even re-sellers, put 'killing' figures on their dresses.Yet they rarely sell anything.Well they have 'show off' or is it showroom where they only go everyday, have a drink and gossip with their friends.

  A style architect, Leila Fowler is set to change that norm. Gistmaster.com gathered that she would officially declare open her new fashion store in Victoria Island. Here, quality dresses would be sold to the hot, urbane chic with class at affordable amounts. Feelers that gistmaster.com got is that it is a cool collection.
Check some of it below

 

UZURI MAGAZINE HITS THE STREETS

Uzuri magazine is an upscale Life style magazine exploring the beauty in people.Sharing beauty, fashion, health and life tips to enhance lives... Uzuri is Swahili for beauty....

The "Waving Flag" celebrity sensation will be gracing the Second Issue of Uzuri Magazine this season. That's not all, as interviews with top celebs like Monique , Jide Oduyoye, Anthea and a host of others, will keep you glue dto each and every page. Not forgetting to add that this "FANTASTIC" issue will also debut a HAIR DOCTOR, themed fashion pages, as well as those intimate truths that you can only find HERE.WOW!!!

This issue is .......Not TO BE MISSED......

POLICE STOPS SHINA PETER's SHOW IN THE US

  Folake Alu/Gistmaster.com
  Afro Juju music creator, Sir Shina Peter's was barred from continuing a show at Royal Prestige Hall, Largo in the state of Maryland in USA by Prince Georges County Police officers last weekend.
 The African Examiner report that the police officers stormed the venue of the sold out show around 2 am, demanding for the liquor license of the show. The organizers, we gathered told the officers that they didn't know that the liquor permit for the show was necessary.Police dispersed all the crowd at show within minutes and the hall was empty.
 Fans of the Afro Juju musician were shocked and outraged that the organizers could not get the liquor permit when they knew that they were going to sell liquor at the event. A lot of them were unhappy as they missed live melodious tunes from their favourite artiste.
 Meanwhile,Sir Shina Peters has also been booked to perform at other shows before he leaves Maryland. We hope the permit won't be a problem next time.

REPORTER's DIARY:BILLIONAIRES WHO RIDE BICYCLES!!!

    By Niyi Tabiti/gistmaster.com
By now, I guess most people around the world would agree with us that Nigerians have a flamboyant lifestyle that can rarely be matched by people from other countries.
 Nigerians like the superstar lifestyle, driving eye popping automobiles, looking gorgeous in our priceless designer clothes, going to the best resort for holidays . Generally, we like being show stoppers anywhere we find ourselves around the world.
   Some months back, when I traveled to Ghana on official assignment, I was shocked because almost everyone I met knew that I was a Nigerian! From the airport down to town, it was easy to tell that one is a Nigerian. Yes, our lifestyle is premium.The entire 'packaging' of a Nigerian is different.
  The philosophy of the average Nigerian is "If you don't enjoy on earth, you can never enjoy heaven"
   After some hours of deliberating on our editorials for the coming week,my colleague, Folake Alu and I decided to work on Nigerian billionaire lifestyles as a follow up to yahoo lifestyle report on the world of world richest billionaires.

 While our own Aliko Dangote rides in expensive private jets (In fact, he took delivery of his 3rd private jet, a 7 billion Naira Bombardier Global Xpress early this year,Jim Walton of the Wal-Mart clan, drives a 15 year old pick up truck!
John Caudwell, David Cheriton and Chuck Feeney, whose names appeared on the forbes world richest billionaire list love to move around using public transportation,take a walk or ride bicycles!!! These are guys who could afford to buy helicopters, ride latest Ferrari or use Bentley as escorts.
 Aside luxury homes scattered over the world, Nigeria billionaire, Alhaja Rasaq Okoya home on the Lekki-Ajah expressway reportedly cost him about $30 million dollars.Nigeria billionaires love erecting magnificent structures that means 'earthly heavens', some by the sea with luxury boat waiting for their cruise into the waters should they need to spend away from the land.
 Surprisingly,the third richest man in the world, Warren Buffet lives in a five bedroom house that cost him about $31,500. The world richest man,Carlo Slim Helu has been living in the same house for 40 years
Jim Caudwell, the billionaire who is heavily into mobile phone business buy his clothes from E-street, he doesn't visit A-list boutiques to get designer clothes.
 If one is a billionaire can one emulate the modest lifestyles of people like Caudwell? I guess not in Nigeria where some people even feed their horses with money enough to pay the school fees of hundreds of school children.

TERRY G-THE ARTISTE, THE ACCIDENT,THE CONTRADICTIONS

By Folake Alu/Gistmaster.com
  'Madly creative' singer, Terry G is receiving treatments after a terrible auto accident that nearly claimed his life recently.Sources disclosed to Gistmaster.com that soon, he may have to be flown abroad to enable him get back to business quickly. The multiple award winning singer who popularized slangs like 'Ginger the swagger', 'Free madness; accident is coming few months after one auto accident claimed the life of promising rapper, Da'Grin in Lagos, Nigeria.
 While everyone is praying that Terry G should live to talk about this experience, fans of the the producer cum singer has been concerned about contradictions coming from his various facebook account facilities. While one confirmed that he is still in the hospital, another wrote that those saying that Terry G is unconscious or hospitalized should shut up because "there is nothing wrong with me"

STRONG LIKE A ZUMA ROCK-PRESIDENT ZUMA EXPECTS 22ND CHILD

By Folake Alu/gistmaster.com President of South Africa,Mr. Jacob Zuma is expecting his 22nd child. According to reports monitored by gistmaster.com, the polygamous president would get the new addition to his growing list of children through his fiancee,Gloria Ngema.Mr. President and Gloria were on official visit to China some time ago.
An affair between Mr. Zuma and his friend's daughter produced the 20th child while the 21st came through his second wife. Now that the 22nd is coming through his fiancee, who will produce the 23rd for Mr. Zuma?Time will tell.
 Zuma Rock is also the name of a notable rock near Abuja, Nigeria. So Mr. Zuma shows that he is still as strong as Zuma rock!!!lol

ELITE MODEL LOOK 2010 UPDATES - GLAM NEW VENUE , NEW DATE, NEW SPONSORS

With activities being put in place for the most- attend event this year and the biggest international modeling competition Elite model look Nigeria 2010, more sponsors are stepping on board to support the oncoming event . New on the list is Vizioe ltd.Also, Mercedes Benz would be coming on board for the third time in a row. Other top of the rank sponsors are Quintessentially, ,Moet and Chandon, Black Up,Clarins, Temple Muse, Bella Naija and Scared Lashes. Like previous years, some top designers would be unveiling their new collection on the Elite model platform, giving each girl the opportunity to model lovely dresses on the runway. Some of the designers taking part this year are - Uk based Nigerian fashion designer -Nkwo, Vonne, Melisa Odabash & Jewel by Lisa, and there would be a grand comeback of the MYA label in Nigeria.The event which would be taking place on the 12th of September at the prestigiuos Federal Palace hotel, promises to have loads of surprises for invited guests, coupled with all the glamour that the event brings.